1st Apr 2005, 21:32

I learned to drive on a 1979 Impala 350 with F-41 suspension. My daddy factory ordered it with a/c, split bench seat, stereo cassette, cruise and tilt. Total sticker was, get this $8,300! The Canadian spec 350 ran like gangbusters. I spent many, many hours behind the wheel of that car and to this day cannot remember a better ride. It went like stink and held the road like glue, a real sleeper. Yes, it horsed gas by the ton, but was no worse that an SUV of today. It was in the family for ten years and to this day, I regret my father trading it in without telling me because I would have certainly bought it and would still have it today. Today's cars really do not hold a candle to that piece of honest Chevy iron; strong, comfortable, reliable and cheap!

1979 Chevrolet Impala 350 from North America

Summary:

Faults:

General Comments:

This is a boat of a car with room for six. I can haul two full size bicycles, one in the back seat and one in the trunk.

Driving this car I know I'm safe. I am surrounded by 5000 lbs of steal, which expands in front of me and behind me for a vast distance.

When I first got the car the engine was dying, the previous owner lacked any knowledge of cars and did not take care of it. I decided to go all out. A summer of weekends and $6000 later I lowered in my 500 horsepower self built 355 with performance everything and a 11:1 compression ratio. This leads me to the next point.

This is the most dependable and easy to maintain car I have ever known. I have replaced almost every part on this car, (most were the original 20 year old parts), myself. And I have had no formal mechanical training.

This car will be on the road until I can no longer buy gasoline, of which I burn a lot, and every time this 5000 lb beast rockets by a hopped up civic or some pony car, I will laugh at the look of amazement/horror on the face of the other driver.